### Possessive Forms in English: Usage of Suffixes and Apostrophes 

#### Introduction

English, a West Germanic language with a rich history and extensive global influence, employs specific grammatical rules to indicate possession. One of the pivotal aspects of English grammar is the formation of possessives, which allows speakers and writers to denote ownership or association. The rules for forming possessives in English involve the use of suffixes and apostrophes, which will be discussed in detail in this article.

#### Historical Background

The use of the apostrophe in possessive forms has evolved over time. Originally, English possessive forms were derived from the Old English genitive case, which often involved an -es ending (much like modern German). Over time, as English syntax and morphology simplified, these endings were reduced, and the apostrophe increasingly took on the role of indicating the elision of letters, a practice that became standardized with the advent of print.

#### The Standard Possessive Suffix: -'s

In contemporary English, the most common way to form a possessive is by adding -'s to a singular noun. This is straightforward for most nouns:
- The girl's book
- The man's hat
- The church's roof

This suffix denotes that the noun that follows is something owed or associated with the noun that carries the -'s. This form is used regardless of whether the noun ends in s or not:
- The boss's desk
- Charles's car

#### Possessive Form of Plural Nouns

When dealing with plural nouns that already end in -s, possession is generally marked by adding only an apostrophe at the end of the word, rather than -'s:
- The dogs' bones
- The teachers' lounge

However, for plural nouns that do not end in -s, the -'s suffix is still used:
- The children's games
- The men's room

#### Special Considerations and Exceptions

While the rules stated above cover most general cases, English also has its exceptions and finer points. For example, for style or pronunciation reasons, possessives of ancient or classical names often just use an apostrophe:
- Jesus' teachings
- Achilles' heel 

Furthermore, joint possession vs. individual possession can affect apostrophe use:
- Jack and Jill's house (joint)
- Jack's and Jill's books (individual)

Compound nouns and phrases also take the -'s possessive marker at the end of the phrase:
- The queen of England's crown

#### Usage in Pronouns

It is important to note that possessive pronouns in English—such as his, hers, its, ours, yours, and theirs—do not use an apostrophe. These forms inherently show possession and are distinct from the contractions it’s (it is), who’s (who is), and you’re (you are), which erroneously lead to common grammatical mistakes.

#### Conclusion

The use of apostrophes and the suffix -'s in English to denote possession is a crucial aspect of the language's grammar, assisting in clarifying relationships between nouns. Understanding and correctly applying these rules is essential for accurate and clear English writing. Awareness of special cases and exceptions, further, enriches one's mastery of English grammar, allowing for more nuanced expression and comprehension in both written and spoken forms.